Sunday, June 21, 2009

Panty Tutorial: How to make your own drawers

Well folks I think I have been talkin' about this tutorial for about a year, so I finally pulled it out. There are millions( ok maybe not millions, but a whole heck of a lot) of variations and add ons but I was trying to do the simplest one first.Materialsthreadsewing machine1 yd stretch elastic or fold over elasticpaper for pattern(paper bag or newspaper)scissorsold t shirt or any knit materialpair of underwear to cut and make pattern from

Make your knickers !!

1. Cut or fold your undiesso you can make your pattern. First Cut or fold on seam between front and back of the undies. Then fold each piece in half at the center.( I made a hybrid pattern from two different undies I liked different things about the cut of each)

2. Trace and cutyour pattern pieces. There will be three pieces (front, back and the lining) that will be cut on the fold. You should cut the front panel first then cut the crotch off the front panel to get the pattern piece for the lining. Lie the pieces as flat and symmetrical as possible on your pattern paper(I Try to use the manufactured straight edge of my paper as the center fold line, This way I know that line is straight) Trace around your fabric piece leaving about 1/8-1/4 " edge. At the hips add 5/8 to each piece(front and back ) for your seam allowance. This pattern may take a bit of tweaking to get the way you like so use up and the oldest ugliest t-shirts on your first pair then you can make adjustments to your pattern from there

3. Cut and iron the T-shirt into usable fabric pieces. For my undies I just cut around the seams to free the front panel of this large mans shirt . I was using only the front image for this pair. I cut the front panel from a large enough scrap of fabric I had in my cotton knit pile.

4. Decide and arrange any key design elements from your fabric.( I wanted stewie's face on the bum)5. Pin, cut and Iron your pattern pieces from your fabric.6. Zigzag your edges on the lining to stop the fray.7 Attach your lining and your panties together. Make a sandwichaligning all the edges from their center; on bottom, front piece wrong side up, next back piece wrong side down, next lining right side down (longest width as the edge ) Zigzag stitch all pieces in place.8. Flatten and pin the lining to the center of the panties to hold in place.Run your iron over everything to be tidy.9. Sew both legs about a 1/4" from the edge with a zigzag crossing over the lining( treat the lining as the edge to sew from)11. trim/ even up any excess edges12 Attach trim to the legs.( I do not cut my trim in advance I work from a large piece and trim it at the end of the stitching) Using a zigzag, topstitch the trim directly to the legs. Attaching stretchy trim to stretchy fabric can be tricky, so if you have not tried this before practice on some comparable scraps to get the hang of it. I do not pin, I simply line up my trim overlapping the panty by about 1/4 " and slow and steady send it through the machine. Most folks will say to try not to stretch either material very much however I do give a little tug to my trim, (not as much as I would with a woven fabric mind you). Maybe my machine pulls the fabric a little. This is something I worked out with my little Brother. That is why I recommend a little practice will take you far.13. Attach one side of undies. With right side together with a zigzag (5/8 seam allowance). Sew from bottom up matching up the leg trim. Finish the seams with a zigzag and trim14. Trim waist line if needed to flow smoothly front and back15. Attach trim to waist just as with the leg trim.16. Finish by attaching other side of undies with right side together with a zigzag (5/8 seam allowance). Sew from bottom up matching up the leg trim and waist line. Finish the seams with a zigzag and trim.

Just one suggestion, if you use some of the thicker clear plastic sold for upholstery or table covers, then you can more easily see the graphics on the the t or other material making "fussy" cutting much easier

This is the best use I've ever seen for recycling tees! Unfortunately my sewing skills are way too poor for something like this, I didn't understand most of the directions at all :( But I may try anyway! I SO want to stick Simpsons on my bum!

I used to make dancers costumes and you just showed me a couple of trix! If anyone is having trouble with fabric getting dragged into the feed dogs try some silicone (Sewers-Aid) on the needle, and use a lingerie needle! Grab some "No More Pins" adhesive too, for delicate stuff like this, it is very handy!From here you girls will be making swim suits next! Just don't try bras...they have like 52 pcs!(((HUG))) Pamwww.MyMimsies.etsy.com

Great! now why haven't i thought of making my own, I am down to two of my fav knickers and no one sells them anymore -- at least in my neck of the woods -- I guess I will sacrifice one to be the pattern! Thanks

The lace is the elastic. It is stretch lace in this particular pair but you could use other stretch solutions as well. You can find the stretch lace elastic at sew sassy fabrics...http://www.sewsassy.com/

Thanks for this tutorial! I've been wanting to make undies from old t-shirts but couldn't bring myself to do all the measuring and pattern making other tutorials call for. This is just what I had in mind. Thanks for the guidance!

Those are awesome! I love this tutorial, thanks for sharing! I can not wait to try this out...I'm a new sewer so intimidated by the jersey knit and also the stretch elastic. But I have a ton of tshirts to try this on ;) I also liked how you used two different panties to get your preffered cut...great idea. I posted a link to your tutorial on my blog and plan on printing your tutorial out! I so gotta get me a Stewie t..love me some Stewie!! lolThanks again!!

cute and smart. i have been itching to turn some old non fitting clothes into material to use for something elce, but couldnt think of what to make with them. ... now i know. since i would love my blah shirts to = cumpfy panties!

Hi, just found your fab blog and lo you had a post on knicker making! I'm about to embark on dottie angel's challenge of only using handcrafted or used goods for my home and myself. The knicker thing was a problem! I'm a knitter, not a sewer and had found some great knitted undies, but your brilliant tutorial has me inspired! Thank you.

it took me forever to figure out exactly what I was looking at there, and then I cracked up.I've never had the nerve to tackle underwear, and my Punisher (comic book bought at a Con) panties are in need of retiring. I'm thinking Incredible Hulk or something now! Time to raid the husbands old tshirt stash!

Thanks for this great tutorial, I've just made a pair of knickers but without using strechy material, was deffinatly a case of trial and error. I will try to make some streachy ones with your easy to follow instructions tomorrow! Thanks!

I have had this tutorial bookmarked for at least 3 years now. For about the same time my sewing machine and material, patterns and all have been packed away. I had the urge to get it all back out and thought I had better ease myself back in with something fast and easy. My new undies turned out great! Thanks for an easy tutorial!

While working on my first pair of these drawers I realized that the hems can be cut off the t-shirt to make prefolded binding for those who find lace irritating. Also looking forward to making undies out of all those "technical" tees we get at runs and tris.